A 14-year-old Carlisle pigeon fancier has won a national award in his first season of racing.
Oliver Longford has won the prestigious Guy Barrett Trophy for Young Fancier of the Year in the RPRA National awards.
Flying in the Southend club at Carlisle against nine other members, Oliver picked up 10 tickets racing on his own for the first time.
He had helped his grandad David Dixon for three years but then wanted to have a go on his own and has impressed everyone with his enthusiasm, hard work and success.
David, who has flown pigeons for about 12 years, says that Oliver has been coming round his loft for most of that time.
“I could see he was really keen so I built him a loft alongside mine. I have a field behind where I live so there was room.
“He only had 12 old birds at the start of the season and for most of it was just sending six. To pick up the number of tickets he did was terrific and he won the old bird inland averages.
“But he does his bit at the club, with all the jobs at basketing and marking that the members are involved in. He helps load the wagon when the birds leave the club,” said David.
All Oliver’s tickets came in old birds because his team of young birds were sick and he was not able to race them.
A pupil of Caldew School, Dalston, Oliver has a pal who has expressed an interest in pigeon racing.
David said: “I’ve told him to bring him round and see what it’s all about. The sport needs more youngsters involved.”
Oliver had previously won the Young Fancier of the Year award for the Cumbria Region and received his medal and special prize at a presentation in the Union Jack Club, Workington.
The other awards went to:
Category A, OB Inland
1st Peter Kirkwood , Union Jack Trophy
2nd Evans & Abraham
Category B, OB Channel
1st Wilson & Buchanan , Tom Pooley Cup
2nd Berwick, Watson, Thompson,Harker
Category C, OB Combined
1st Martindale & Lawman, NPO Cup
2nd Blacklock & Sons
Category D, Young Bird
1st Martindale & Lawman, Long and Small’s Bowl
2nd Wilson & Buchanan
Jubilee Awards, J Walker, A Graham & Co, Berwick & Ptrs, Ian Graham.
Tattersall/Blacklock Friendship Trophy for Service to the sport, Danny Rodgers.
Cumbria Combine Average winners, Wilson & Buchanan
